Hosting an Easter Feast

This may well become a survey of the pros and cons, of hosting an Easter Feast.For background to this Sunday just past, I can explain that although our family never hosted any parties, most probably because Mom was in poor health most of my life. Still, at Easter any family members who could travel would come for a family gathering. I often had to do Mom's share of kitchen work in her place.

Later my sister Elsie became the trained, experienced cook/chef- in fact, her first jobs were to be in charge of two hospital kitchens, one in Rosthern and one in Nipawin. So when she could be present she was in charge of the feast for all present.

During the time we had Gr'ma in our home until an opening came up for her at the Rosthern Nursing Home, Aunts & Uncles often came to visit at Easter, and after Elsie moved to BC to train as a Health Inspector, the work in the kitchen was up to me again.

I've never bragged on my cooking abilities, but I do know what has to be done; with Mom's spirit of "finish what you start" I managed to push through the roasting of the turkey, the extra dishes, and then the clean up too. But I remember often going to bed with an achy back, and feeling quite spent.

After Dad died in 2007 and I moved into Saskatoon, the only relative I had nearby was my brother Tom, who was in a wheel- chair and could not get into my house, (too many steps and sharp/narrow corners). So I made a turkey meal, packed it up and took it to his apartment so at least he would not be left out.

Often I found myself thinking of other senior singles I knew who lived alone and had no family to go home to for Easter. But I felt my first obligation was to Tom.

After Tom died in 2019 I was pleased to start inviting a few senior singles over for Easter suppers. Also at Christmas! Sometimes for Thanksgiving as well. I felt good about hosting these events, but over the last couple of years I've noticed my poor back with several curvatures and only 10% cushioning left between the vertebrae starts to grind on itself earlier and earlier in those kitchen hours.

By the time my guests arrive, I almost collapse into my chair at the table, and feel too exhausted to eat. So... I'm now wondering if it is time to end this tradition. This is why I am now weighing the pros and cons.

Oh yes, another pro in favour of doing this is that I get to eat the turkey leftovers, etc., for the rest of the week. So I am asking myself if I would still do all this for myself.

Last Sunday, there was a fellowship lunch at church, and I asked my ESL students (a college student, and a middle-aged mother with twin teens, who are also students at my table in class) if they would be interested in coming to my place on Easter Sunday for a Canadian/Mennonite style Easter feast.

They were thrilled to accept my invitation! These 4 guests are all Chinese, and super-friendly. (They also helped me sow my garden last spring and are eager do so again!)

We went to look out the back porch windows and marvelled at how much snow has melted in just the last few days. So they are eager to hear me say I'm ready to sow the garden again!

They also brought food to share, a salad with shrimp, juice carton, and a tin of imported sugary large cookie rollups. They wanted some of my Saskatoon berry cheesecake, and I did prepare some leftover containers for them, but they forgot them at the last minute.

My fridge is FULL of leftovers, so I don't do much cooking, mostly just warming up whatever combination of foods strike my fancy.

So, you see, I have many reasons to want to keep this up. Can I afford a maid to help me next time though?

My guests were so eager to help me with clean up, but I'm still putting things back in their rightful place. My maid would need some advance training to be most useful. Cecile is hoping for a summer job, and offered to work for me. I wish I could say an immediate yes, but can I pay her?

Right! Those Precious Promises I shared with you last week!

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